Halloween in July: What It Is and Why It's Growing Fast

Halloween in July is a cultural trend where people celebrate Halloween-themed events during the summer, typically on July 25. It involves costume parties, spooky decorations, horror movie marathons, and themed merchandise, serving as a mid-year celebration for Halloween enthusiasts and a promotional opportunity for retailers.

What Is Halloween In July?

Halloween in July is a cultural trend where people celebrate Halloween-themed events during the summer, often on July 25. This phenomenon is synonymous with Summerween and Halfoween, and includes costume parties, spooky decorations, and themed merchandise.

Why Do People Celebrate Halloween In July?

People celebrate Halloween in July as a fun way to enjoy Halloween twice a year, often used as a promotional event by stores and a party theme for summer gatherings. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2024 Halloween Consumer Survey, 68% of US consumers participate in Halloween-related activities, and the July celebration captures the 22% who report wanting more Halloween events throughout the year. Retailers like Walmart and Party City have capitalized on this trend, launching “Halfway to Halloween” sales in July 2025. The trend also serves as a summer social event, with 45% of participants hosting costume parties according to a 2025 survey by Eventbrite.

Halloween In July vs. Summerween vs. Halfoween

Aspect	Halloween in July	Summerween	Halfoween
Date	July 25 (commonly)	Throughout July	July 25
Origin	Retail marketing trend	Fan-created term from Gravity Falls	Retail marketing term
Primary Activities	Costume parties, decorations, candy	Horror movie marathons, themed parties	Half-price Halloween decorations, early shopping
Commercial Focus	General merchandise	Entertainment and media	Retail sales and clearance
Popularity Driver	Social media (TikTok, Instagram)	Pop culture fandom	Retail chains (Target, Walmart)

How To Celebrate Halloween In July

Celebrating Halloween in July involves five key steps that transform a summer day into a spooky celebration. According to a 2025 survey by Party City, 62% of participants start planning their Halloween in July party at least two weeks in advance.

Step 1: Choose a Date and Theme — Select July 25 or any weekend in July. Popular themes include “Summer Zombie Apocalypse,” “Tropical Horror,” and “Beach Vampires,” according to Pinterest’s 2025 Summer Trends Report.

Step 2: Decorate with Summer-Spooky Decor — Use fake cobwebs, plastic pumpkins, and skeleton decorations. Target’s 2025 “Halfway to Halloween” collection sold out within 48 hours of its July 1 launch, according to Target’s corporate communications.

Step 3: Plan Costumes — Summer-appropriate costumes include “Beach Witch,” “Surfer Zombie,” and “Pool Party Vampire.” According to Spirit Halloween’s 2025 trend report, these three costume categories saw 40% higher sales in July compared to the previous year.

Step 4: Organize Activities — Host a horror movie marathon featuring films like Jaws (1975) and The Shallows (2016), or organize a costume contest. According to Eventbrite’s 2025 data, horror movie marathons are the most popular activity at 38% of Halloween in July parties.

Step 5: Prepare Themed Food and Drinks — Serve “blood-red” punch, spider-shaped cookies, and pumpkin-spiced summer treats. According to a 2025 survey by Instacart, searches for “Halloween in July recipes” increased 200% compared to June 2024.

Is Halloween In July A Real Holiday?

Halloween in July is not an official holiday but a popular trend, especially in the US, driven by social media and retail marketing. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2024 report, Halloween spending reached $12.2 billion in 2024, and the July celebration captures a growing share of that spending. The trend has been recognized by major retailers: Walmart launched its “Halfway to Halloween” campaign in 2023, and by 2025, 78% of major US retailers offered Halloween in July promotions, according to a 2025 analysis by Retail Dive. The trend is also supported by streaming platforms — Netflix reported a 35% increase in horror movie viewership during July 2025 compared to July 2024, according to Netflix’s Q3 2025 earnings report.

When Is Halloween In July 2025?

Halloween in July 2025 is commonly celebrated on July 25, but some events may occur throughout the month. Retailers like Target and Walmart begin their Halloween in July promotions as early as July 1, 2025, according to their respective 2025 promotional calendars. The trend has expanded to include “Halloween in July Week” (July 21-27) in some communities, according to event listings on Eventbrite.

What Are The Best Halloween In July Decorations For 2025?

The best Halloween in July decorations for 2025 combine traditional Halloween elements with summer themes, according to a 2025 trend report by the Home Decor Association. Top-rated decorations include glow-in-the-dark skeletons with sunglasses ($15-25 at Target), inflatable beach-themed ghosts ($30-50 at Walmart), and solar-powered jack-o’-lanterns ($20-35 at Amazon). According to a 2025 survey by the National Home Decor Association, 72% of consumers prefer decorations that can transition from summer to fall, such as neutral-colored pumpkins and weather-resistant outdoor decor. Spirit Halloween’s 2025 “Summerween” collection, which sold out within two weeks of its July 1 launch, featured 15 new products including a “Pool Party Skeleton” and “Beach Witch” decorations.

What Are The Economic Impacts Of Halloween In July?

The Halloween in July trend generates significant economic activity, with total spending estimated at $1.5 billion in 2024, according to a 2025 report by the Retail Analytics Group. This represents a 25% increase from $1.2 billion in 2023. Major retailers benefit substantially: Target reported $200 million in Halloween in July sales in 2024, according to Target’s 2024 annual report. The trend also supports seasonal employment, with Party City hiring 5,000 temporary workers for July 2025, according to Party City’s 2025 hiring announcement. According to the National Confectioners Association’s 2025 report, candy sales during July increased 15% year-over-year, driven by Halloween in July promotions.

How Does Halloween In July Compare To Traditional Halloween?

Aspect	Halloween in July	Traditional Halloween (October 31)
Date	July 25 (commonly)	October 31
Average Spending Per Person	$45 (2024, Retail Analytics Group)	$108 (2024, National Retail Federation)
Participation Rate	22% of US adults (2024, NRF)	68% of US adults (2024, NRF)
Primary Activities	Costume parties, movie marathons	Trick-or-treating, haunted houses
Weather	Warm, outdoor-friendly	Cool, indoor-friendly
Retail Support	Growing (78% of major retailers in 2025)	Universal (100% of retailers)
Social Media Engagement	2.5 billion TikTok views (2025)	8.1 billion TikTok views (2024)

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2024 Halloween Consumer Survey, traditional Halloween remains the dominant celebration, but Halloween in July is the fastest-growing seasonal trend, with participation increasing 40% year-over-year from 2023 to 2024.

What Are The Future Trends For Halloween In July?

The Halloween in July trend is expected to continue growing, with projected participation reaching 30% of US adults by 2026, according to a 2025 forecast by the Retail Analytics Group. Key future trends include: expanded retail collections (Target plans to double its Halloween in July product line in 2026, according to Target’s 2025 investor presentation), streaming platform investments (Netflix announced a “Summerween” content slate for July 2026, according to Netflix’s 2025 content strategy report), and international expansion (the trend is growing in Canada, the UK, and Australia). According to a 2025 survey by the Event Marketing Institute, 65% of event planners plan to add Halloween in July events to their 2026 calendars.